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Quit your job to travel the world, will you? An idea that most think is tempting but crazy, having to leave a comfortable well-paying job, packing limited belongings on a bike and setting off into the unknown. Not just crazy, it would also sound scary to a larger percentage of people, even if they don't admit it. Tim Burke was also one of them, someone who only gazed at pictures from around the world on the Internet. But he decided to overcome all of these feelings and soldiered on. And now his life on the road is more than a dream come true.
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Tim has been an avid motorcyclist, a fact that becomes quite clear on his Instagram account. On this prolonged journey, he is accompanied by a rather very well equipped BMW R 1200 GS. Pictured here is hotel room better than any at Lofoten Islands in Norway.
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Tim not only quit his job, but also sold some of his belongings including his pickup truck and furniture. His journey started on 6th April from London, UK. From there, he crossed France and into Spain, Portugal and even touching tips of Africa at Morocco.
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After Morocco, he rode towards Italy. From Italy, he headed off to explore Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. So far, Tim has done over 48,000 km on this trip. (Tim displaying his social skills here)
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But it isn't always fun and games while doing cross-country or cross-continent runs like these. Pictured here is what Tim calls 'roadside maintenance'. 'Just a routine brake pad swap,' he says.
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Parked against a beautiful backdrop of Italy's Cinque Terre coastline. The reason for choosing the GS for this trip, as Tim says, is that it is very reliable. This is his third GS, and Tim happens to have a done a combined 1,60,000 km of GS motorcycles without facing any major maintenance issues. Other than that, it is capable of off-roading quite well and munches miles quickly too.
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'Norwegian backroads!' Tim has also had some hurdles on his way, such as one from Greece, when he fractured a bone on his right foot ring a 50cc scooter without any protective gear (which he admits was his fault). But men like these are not easily held back. He was told by his doctor to rest for two weeks but only five days after, Tim was back on the road.
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Tim's time in Europe will come to an end in September and until then he will be exploring Scotland and Ireland. On 16th September, Tim flies back to North America. An epic adventure like this must addictive, to cure which he says he may head to South America. Good luck, Mr Burke! God speed to you.
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